Nancy Mace Finishes Fifth in South Carolina GOP Governor Primary

Rep. Nancy Mace’s bid for South Carolina governor ended Tuesday with a distant fifth-place finish in the Republican primary, as voters chose candidates more closely aligned with President Trump. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson advanced to a June 23 runoff after neither secured a majority, drawing 28.9 percent and 26.2 percent of the vote respectively. Mace received 12.1 percent.

Mace, who has represented a Charleston-area House district since 2021, conceded on social media and pointed to her vote to release Jeffrey Epstein files as a factor that cost her support. “As a survivor, I chose to stand on principle and stand against the Epstein cover-up,” she wrote. “And apparently, I chose wrong if the goal was winning an election.” She also highlighted other stands against what she called abuses of power and cover-ups.

The outcome reflected the durable advantage Trump’s endorsement carries in Republican primaries. Trump backed Evette shortly before the vote, describing her as a “good friend, fighter, and WINNER.” That late push came after Mace had sought his support following a period of tension that included her criticism of Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and his earlier endorsement of a primary challenger against her in 2022.

Mace’s record shows repeated efforts to navigate between national attention and local demands. She initially positioned herself as a moderate who supported codifying same-sex marriage and called for compromise on abortion. Over time she shifted toward sharper cultural attacks and aligned more closely with Trump on many issues, though her decision to press for the Epstein documents marked a clear departure. Trump’s choice to back another candidate underscored how even limited independence can carry costs in a party where primary voters reward consistent loyalty.

South Carolina’s open primary featured six candidates and no dominant frontrunner entering election day. Besides Mace, state Sen. Josh Kimbrell, Rep. Ralph Norman and former business executive Rom Reddy also failed to advance. Evette benefited from Trump’s backing plus the support of term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster. Wilson, who has served as attorney general for more than 15 years, positioned himself as a steady alternative without drawing the same level of national attention.

Mace’s loss follows a pattern in recent cycles where candidates who once cultivated cross-aisle profiles struggle once Trump’s preferences are clear. Her campaign attempted to blend institutional experience with populist appeals, yet the results suggest voters prioritized the signal sent by the president’s endorsement over other factors. The runoff between Evette and Wilson will test whether that same dynamic holds when the field narrows.